Programme notesJordan Henderson: We have to be prepared for a proper derby

The Reds captain got the ball rolling thanks to his ninth-minute strike in the 4-1 reverse victory at Goodison Park in December.

Henderson also went on to claim an assist for Mohamed Salah as the Egyptian struck twice that night, before Diogo Jota rounded off the scoring.

Jürgen Klopp’s men welcome the Toffees to Anfield on Sunday in the Premier League, and are relishing the chance to go toe-to-toe again with their local rivals.

In the official matchday programme, Henderson writes: “Our games against Everton are among the first that everyone looks for when the fixtures first come out and I’m no different in this regard.

“The derby is always a special occasion, so hopefully it will live up to the expectation once again.

“As ever, we’re expecting an incredibly tough game against an Everton team which has its own reasons for fighting for every single point.

“I can also say without any shadow of a doubt that anyone who uses the league table as a gauge for what will happen in this game should think again.

“I might not fully believe the old cliché about the form book going out of the window, but I have played in more than enough of these matches to know that nothing is won on the basis of what’s happened previously. It is all about how you perform on the day.

“I know Frank Lampard well from the time we spent together with England so I’m well aware of the kind of drive, passion, knowledge and experience that he will have brought to Everton and their last couple of results have underlined the fighting spirit that he has instilled.

“This will be a proper derby with everything that goes with it so we have to be prepared for that as a team because anything else won’t be good enough.

“Yes, we can go into the game with as much confidence as our recent form allows, but our desire and will to win has to be as strong as it would be if we hadn’t won a game in weeks, armed with the knowledge that we will absolutely have to earn the right to play.

“This isn’t me questioning our mentality, by the way, I’m reinforcing it. Every single quality that I’m saying we need are the exact same ones that we’ve displayed for some time and the lads deserve all the credit in the world for that.

“Whatever the challenge and whatever the competition, they have shown the characteristics that are always required to win football matches. So I’m not asking for anything different. It’s simply a case of more of the same.

“If we do that we won’t be guaranteed anything, of course, but our chances of getting a positive result will only be enhanced.

“I know how desperate our supporters are for us to do well in this fixture and I can assure you that within our dressing room the feelings are exactly the same.”

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